Historical document detailing the significance of beautification and pride taken by all who worked and studied at Bogong School 4590This item represents a period in school and social development when the community covered the beautification of school facilities without State involvement. A period in time when public resources could only cover city and larger townships Buff coloured cardboard certificateThis is to certify that the Bogong School 4590 was awarded a water colour as the A.N.A. prize for the most improved school gardening and grounds in the Beechworth Inspectorial District for 1944 signed J. Parker General Secretarybogong school 4590, gardening awards, beechworth inspectorial

Historical photograph taken of the frontage of the Burke Museum in Beechworth. As Australia’s oldest regional museum, the building used for the Burke Museum was originally built as the Beechworth Athenaeum, and was later dedicated as a museum in memorial to the explorer Robert O’Hara Burke, who died on the Burke and Wills expeditions in 1861. The Burke and Wills exhibitions were a significant colonial event that was memorialised in paintings, buildings, monuments, and statues. The photograph has historical significance, connecting with various themes such as exploring, establishing pathways, and significant colonial events or persons. The photograph depicts the frontage of the Burke Museum, which was dedicated as a memorial to the explorer Robert O’Hara Burke, who died on the Burke and Wills expeditions in 1861. Robert O’Hara Burke was a significant person who was connected to both Beechworth and to an important colonial event, the Burke and Wills expeditions. Born in Ireland, Burke migrated to Australia in 1853 and nearly a year later, was appointed to senior inspector at Beechworth. Described as quick-tempered yet generous, Burke later joined an expedition to explore the interior of the Victorian colony, which was later termed the Burke and Wills expeditions. While the expeditions generated a significant amount of interest, the objectives of the Burke and Wills expeditions were hazy, as was its planned route, leading to disaster on the trip as group infighting, poor provisions, and a lack of clear instructions ultimately resulted in Burke’s death. Regardless, the Burke and Wills expeditions promoted discovery and endures today in popular memory.Black and white rectangular photograph printed on paper.Obverse: 1856/ BEECHWORTH/ PUBLIC/ LIBRARY/ BURKE/ MUSEUM/ BURK MUSEUM/ (parking signs illegible) Reverse: BMM 84-2-1/ A02989 1997 2696/ BMM 84-2-3burke museum, beechworth, beechworth athenaeum, athenaeum, memorial, robert o'hara burke, robert burke, burke and wills exhibitions

This photograph, taken by Courtney’s Thelma Studios in Wangaratta, depicts Sergeant Arthur Loftus Maule Steele standing in the regalia of the Masonic Lodge. Before his death, Steele was a long term member of the St John’s Lodge of Masons where he was a Past Master and held office of treasurer for over thirty years. He was also a dedicated member of the Church of England and was an Electoral Inspector for Wangaratta. Steele was Sergeant of Police in Wangaratta for much of his life. He was one of 17 children born to Captain Robert Ball Steele and Mary Babington in Tours, France, in 1839. His parents were travelling at the time and soon after settled in Donegal, Ireland. At the age of 12, Steele was sent to the Military Academy of Dublin where he passed his examinations and prepared to enter the British Army. Steele met a bother of Robert O’Hara Burke and was advised to travel to Australia and join as a police cadet. Steele took the advice and travelled to Australia, arriving in Melbourne at the age of 17. He spend some time in a variety of employment including working as a clerk for the White Star Line. He entered the Victorian Police force in 1856. By 1864, Steele married Ruth Ingram Ballinger at Snowy Creek and worked at Omeo until being promoted to the mining centre of Beechworth, taking charge of the Yackandandah Station. Steele and Ballinger had ten children. Steele is well known in Victorian history for a variety of reasons, the most famous being the role he played in capturing Edward “Ned” Kelly at Glenrowan on the 28th June 1880. He also arrested Frank Neville (for the murder of a local resident Mr Nicholls) and Patrick Sheehan (first person to be executed in the Beechworth Gaol 1865 for the murder of James Kennedy at Rowdy Flat Yackandandah). He later worked on the case of Bridget Mepham (charged with the murder of her sister) at Wangaratta and retired from the Police force on the 1st of August 1896. In this retirement, Steele was a keen horticulturalist who enjoyed observing the habits and growth of new varieties cared for in his conservatory. Steele passed away in February 1914. This image has the potential to support current research on Sergeant Steele, the Masonic Lodge and photography during the c.1890s. Sergeant Steele is a well-researched member of the Victorian Police force and is known primarily for his involvement with the Kelly Gang. Therefore, depictions of Steele through photography can help to provide essential information about Steele outside of the Police force. This image has the capacity to inform about Steele’s involvement with the Masonic Lodge in Wangaratta. Therefore, it is important for what it can reveal regarding historic and social aspects. The Burke Museum is home to a large collection of Kelly centred photographs. The study of these photographs in connection to those in other museums have the ability to further current understanding on important figures and events in this historic occasion.Black and White rectangular photograph printed on matte photographic paper and mounted on an oval boardObverse: Courtney's Thelma Studios/ Wangaratta Reverse: 2747portrait, ned kelly, uniform, policeman, wangarratta, sergeant, steele, 1880, photograph, oval, black and white, sergeant steele, arthur loftus maule steele, arthur steele, wangaratta, beechworth

The photograph is a copy of the original one, with the latter been captured in 1870. The man depicted is Doctor Thomas Thomson Dick, who was the first Medical Superintendent at Mayday Hills Hospital. He was born in Scotland in 1840 and he died in East Malvern in 1919. He obtained his degree of Doctor of Medicine from Melbourne University in 1864 and, later in his career, he became Inspector-General of the mentally ill. Dr Dick promoted the hospital`s self-sufficiency by engaging patients in various forms of work, such as clothing alterations and cultivation of the farm. He also introduced monthly balls, which could be attended by patients, staff and guests, and they were later replaced by concerts. The Mayday Hills Hospital was constructed between 1864 and 1867, with buildings created in a number of periods. It formally opened on 24 October 1867 and, along with the Ovens Hospital and the Benevolent Asylum, made Beechworth a prominent social welfare centre in Victoria. The need for an institution of this kind was arisen due to the increased number of people with mental disturbances (induced by the harsh living conditions on the goldfields) and the remoteness of the district from Melbourne. The site was chosen for its panoramic view of the countryside, the hilltop atmosphere and the native fauna, all contributing to the cure of patients.The Hospital was originally named the “Ovens Lunatic Asylum” but, during the centenary celebrations in 1967, the name was officially changed to “Mayday Hills Hospital”, showing the gradual shift in the perception and understanding of mental health conditions over the last decades. The Hospital lies on the traditional land of the Kulin Nation.This photograph is historically significant as it provides information about the staff served at the Mayday Hills Hospital when it first opened. It also contributes to the understanding of the district`s development and its importance to the course of Victoria`s history and adds valuable information about the changing approaches to the treatment of mental health conditions.Black and white rectangular photograph printed on paper.Obverse: (7)/ Reverse: 1997.2452/ Dr Dick/No(7) Pioneer Board/doctor thomas thomson dick, superintendent, mayday hills hospital, scotland, east malvern, doctor of medicine, melbourne university, inspector-general, clothing alterations, cultivation of the farm, self-sufficiency, balls, concerts, ovens hospital, benevolent asylum, beechworth, goldfields, kulin nation, panoramic view, mental health conditions

Alfred Armstrong Armstrong, Alfred, Eltham is a native of Somerset, England, born in 1825, and was employed under Mr. Mark Isambard Kingdom Brunel as a civil engineer prior to his coming out to Melbourne in 1852. He first visited Beechworth, but returning to Melbourne took contacts at Essendon and Gisbourne for forming and metalling the road. He afterwards purchased property at Eltham, where is at present mining, surveyor, inspector of mines, and mining registrar for the St Andrew’s division of the Castlemaine mining district. Mrs Armstrong, to whom he was married in 1854, at St Paul’s Church, Melbourne, died on 27th March, 1887. from "Victoria and its Metropolis: Past and Present" written in 1888 by Alexander Sutherland. Chapter 19, "The Upper Yarra District" pages [402] - 415. Includes descriptions of some townships and short biographies of local residents. Page 405 Folder of information on Alfred Armstrong, Eltham and Kangaroo Groundalfred armstrong, ada gertrude armstrong, arthur reynolds stockwood armstrong, arthur vivian harrison, eltham cemetery, gravestones, laura augusta harrison (nee armstrong), margaret armstrong, mary armstrong, thomas armstrong

A4 Article, yellow cover, stapled & contacted L H Braybrook - senior apiary inspector, Geelong R D Goodman, agricultural officer, Ferntree Gully

A4 Article typed, yellow cover stapled & covered with contact

Soft cover , slighlty smaller than A5 size. spine of book has been taped. On the front cover is a photo of 2 Beekeepers tending a hive, on the back is a photo of a bee on a flowerHand written - Jack Rufford Sharpe, Apiary Inspector, Department of Agriculture, Murphy St, Wangaratta

This folder contains the official Inspector's reports for House Creek School Number 2266. Inspections were carried out every six months for all Victorian Government Schools. On 8th October 1879 Mathew Parnaby and others applied for the establishment of a school, between Huon and House Creeks, about four miles southwest of Wodonga. The District Inspector approved and Albert Schlink offered two acres of freehold land as a site, four chains from the southeast corner of Allotment Eight, Section 10, of the Parish of Wodonga in the County of Bogong. A portable classroom, 22ft x14ft, with quarters was erected at a total cost of £192, and SS2266 opened on 1st of June 1880 with Edwin Davis as Head Teacher. In 1883 the average attendance ranged between 12 and 20. Both school and quarters fell into a very bad state of repair. Temporarily closed in 1894, the school reopened as a result of a petition by Ferdinand Godde and others. By 1902 the school had a nett enrolment of 37, the grounds had been fenced, and a shelter shed erected by local effort. By 1907 the nett enrolment had risen to 45 with an average attendance of 37. Ferdinand V. Godde served as Correspondent of the Committee in 1911. House Creek was unstaffed in February 1917 and closed on 8th of November 1917. It reopened on 4th August 1921, but with a nett enrolment of 6, closed on the 24th July 1926. The building was sold for removal. Many of the reports in this Register were written and signed by Henry Finch Rix. He was a pioneer of the Victorian School Inspection System and from 1884 to 1887 worked as a Chief Inspector in the Beechworth Education District. He had previously played with the Carlton Football Club for one season. Henry Rix was a highly regarded educator and a staunch advocate of the establishment of school libraries to teach children of "the rich stores of profitable pleasure to be found in books."This item is significant because it documents progress and recommendations for students at an early government primary school in the Wodonga district.A large bound folder of printed forms. The majority have been completed in handwritten reports including names, notes and statistics. On cover: INSPECTOR'S REGISTER BOOK STATE SCHOOLShenry finch rix, house creek school, victorian school inspectors, school 2266